Angel De Castillo
Where did he come from?
Angel De Castillo was brought over in the same 2042 deal that sent SP Don Smith to the Talons. Des Moines was looking to reduce salary, while the Talons needed a 2B after Arturo Barron had fallen out of favor. De Castillo's 2043 season had been marred by injury, making him no better than replacement that season.
How did he do this season?
2044 was better for De Castillo on the injury front, with a couple DTD injuries and a single 2 week stint on the IL. The result was a good year at the plate, as he slashed .279/.359/.485 in 129 games, hitting 27 home runs and primarily batting leadoff. However, De Castillo is not a good defensive second baseman, and the 36 year old recorded an atrocious -17.2 ZR. Still, it all added up to +2.1 WAR.
What's going to happen to him?
This guy is expensive, and he was a salary dump by Des Moines for good reason. Angel De Castillo has a $16 million Team option for 2045 and a vesting option for the following year. He's made almost 200 million in his career, but his high earning days are over; at least where Phoenix's payroll department is concerned.
Rating: C+
